Apparatus foe handling and com



April 20, 1954 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND COMPACTING MAGNETIC MATERIAL Filed April- 50, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dal w I? F/NA/EY,

April 20, 1954 up FlNNEYA 2,675,718

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND COMPACTINC MAGNETIC MATERIAL Filed April 30, 1952 2 she ts-sheet 2- Patented Apr. 20, 1954 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND COM- PACTING MAGNETIC MATERIAL David P.Finney,-=Clairtn, Pa., assignor to United States .Steel Corporation, a-corporation of New Jersey Application April 30, 1952, Serial No. 285,352

BClaims. 1

This invention relates to an improved device for loading and compacting loose magnetic "material.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved device which combines an electromagnet for lifting loose material and a tamping mechanism for compacting this material after its release from the magnet.

A further object is to provi-de'an improved loading and compacting device especially suited for filling open hearth charging boxe with loose scrap material and tamping this'material to increase the capacity of the box.

A further object is to provide an improved loading and compacting device in which both functions can be controlled from common station, such as a crane operator's cab.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, a preferred form of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l i a somewhat diagrammatic elevational View of a steel scrap loading yard in which the crane is equipped with a loading and compacting device embodying features of the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are elevation'al views at right angles to each other illustrating the device tamping a load of scrap in a charging box; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the device on a larger scale.

Figure 1 shows a loading and compacting device constructed in accordance with the present invention and typical surrounding structure with which this device can be used advantageously. The latter structure includes an overhead crane H), which supports the loading and compacting device, a control station l2, a car 13, which contains loose magnetic scrap material S, and a plurality of charging boxes M, which are supported on a smaller car. In this example the loading and compacting device is adapted to lift scrap material S from car l3, release this material in one of the charging boxes l4, and then tam the material in the box, as illustrated in ures 2 and 3, and thus increase the capacity of the box. The loading and compacting device comprises an electromagnet I25 and a tamping mechanism E6. The electromagnet itself can be of any standard or desired construction with the qualifications that it has a central opening I! and carries support means, such as lifting lugs l8, on its upper face, and therefore it is not shown in detail. If the magnet as manufactured lacks a central opening, one can be drilled therein.

Figure 4 shows details of the tamping mechanism. This mechanism includes a'double-acting fluid pressure cylinder l9, a piston 20 reciprocable therein, a downwardly extending pistonrod 2| fixed to said piston, and a tamping head 22 fixed to the lower end of said pistonrod. The cylinder has upper and lower cylinder heads 23 and 24, the latter of Which is fixed to the top of the magnet I5 by bolts 25. The lower cylinder heads contains a flexible cup 26 held in place by a retainer 27. The piston rod 21 extends through said cup and retainer, and through the opening I! in the magnet, where it ispositioned by a bushing 28, Thus the tamping head 22 is situated at the underside of the magnet.

Preferably the piston rod 2| carries a sleeve '29 below the piston 20 and has a portion 30 which extends upwardly above the piston 20 and receives a nut 3| for holding these parts assembled. The upper cylinder head 23 contains a bore 32, and the lower cylinder head 24 a counterbore 33 adapted respectively to receive the-upwardly extending portion 30 and the sleeve 29 at the ends of the piston stroke to furnish'a dashpot effect and thus cushion the piston. The upper cylinder head contains an air duct 34 which opens into its bore 32 and an anxiliary air duct 35 which opens into the interior of the cylinder and contains a check valve 36. The duct arrangement in the lower cylinder is similar. The auxiliary ducts allow air to enter the cylinder through their check valves to start a piston stroke when the main ducts are blocked by the extension 35 or sleeve 29.

The upper face of the magnet carries two or more hangers 3'! which are attached to the lugs [8 by suitable fasteners 38 which pass through openings in the hangers and lugs. Said hangers have inwardly directed abutments or stop 39 which are adapted to engage the upper end of cylinder I9. The whole device is suspended by chains 40 which engage the upper ends of the hangers and the crane I0.

The upper face of the magnet also carries a four-way solenoid operated valve 4! whichis of an standard or desired construction and is 'connected to the ducts in the cylinder head via conduits t2 and 43, and to an air tank l l'via a conduit Q5. The latter conduit is flexible, at least in part, and is Wound on a reel 6. Tank 44 and a compressor 4'! for supplying air thereto conveniently can be mounted on the crane girders. The solenoid valve 4| can be operated from the control station l2, commonly the crane operators cab. The location of the valve protects it from damage from dropping of chains 40. For simplicity the electrical connection to the magnet and solenoid valve are not shown.

In operation the magnet l5 lifts a load of loose material S from car 43 and drops it in the charging box [4, as shown in Figure 1. Next the solenoid valve 41 of the tamping mechanism 16 is operated to lower the tamping head 22 and thus compact the material in th Charging box, so that additional material can be placed therein, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The valve again is operated to raise the tamping head before the magnet picks up it next load.

From the foregoing description it is seen that the present invention afiords a rugged and convenient device for both lifting loose magnetic material and tamping this material so that more can be received in a given space. The tamping mechanism is simple and easily installed on existing magnets.

While I have shown and described only a single embodiment of the invention, it is apparent that modifications may arise. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the disclosure set forth but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for loading and compacting loose magnetic material comprising an electromagnet having a central opening, power means mounted on the magnet above said central opening, reciprocable means extending through said central opening and connected to said power means to be operated thereby, and a tamping head carried by said reciprocable means underneath said magnet.

2. A device for loading and compacting loose magnetic material comprising an electromagnet having a central opening, a double acting cylinder mounted on the upper face of said magnet above said central opening, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a piston rod extending downwardly from said piston through said central opening, a tamping head on the lower end of said piston rod, and means for admitting fluid under pressure to the ends of said cylinder.

3. A device for loading and compacting loose lmagnetic material comprising an electromagnet having lifting lugs on its upper face and a central opening, power means mounted on the magnet above said central opening, reciprocable means extending through said central opening and connected to said power means to be operated thereby, a tamping head carried by said reciprocable means on the underside of the magnet, and hangers attached to said lifting lugs for suspending the device.

4. A device for loading and compacting loose magnetic material comprising an electromagnet having lifting lugs on its upper face and a central opening, a double acting cylinder mounted on the upper face of said magnet above said central opening, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a piston rod extending downwardly from said piston through said central opening, a tamping head on the lower end of said piston rod, means for admitting fluid under pressure to the ends of said cylinder, and hangers attached to said lifting lugs for suspending the device.

5. A device for loading and compacting loose magnetic material comprising an electromagnet having lifting lugs on its upper face and a central opening, a double acting cylinder mounted on the upper face of said magnet above said central opening, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a piston rod extending downwardly from said piston through said central opening, a tamping head on the lower end of said piston rod, a valve mounted on the top of said magnet and connected to the ends of said cylinder for admitting fluid under pressure thereto, and hangers attached to said lifting lugs for suspending the device and having inwardly extending abutments adapted to engage the upper portion of said cylinder.

6. The combination with a lifting crane having a control station, of a device for loading and compacting loose magnetic material comprising an electromagnet having a central opening, means suspending said magnet from said crane, power means mounted on the magnet above said central opening, reciprocable means extending through said central opening and connected to said power means to be operated thereby, a tamping head on said reciprocable means underneath said magnet, and means for operating said power means from said control station.

7. The combination with a lifting crane having a control station, of a device for loading and cornpacting loose magnetic material comprising an electromagnet having a central opening, means suspending said magnet from said crane, a double acting cylinder mounted on the upper face of said magnet above said central opening, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a piston rod extending downwardly from said piston through said central opening, a tamping head on the lower end of said piston rod, a valve connected with opposite ends of said cylinder for admitting fluid under pressure, and means for operating said valve from said control station.

8. The combination with a lifting crane having a control station, of a device for loading and compacting loose magnetic material comprising an electromagnet having lifting lugs on its upper face and a central opening, a double acting cylinder mounted on the upper face of said magnet above said central opening, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a piston rod extending downwardly from said piston through said central opening, a tamping head on the lower end of said piston rod, a valve mounted on the top of said magnet and connected to the ends of said cylinder for admitting fluid under pressure thereto,

hangers attached to said lifting lugs and having inwardly extending abutments adapted to engage the upper portion of said cylinder, means suspending said'hangers from said crane, a fluid supply on said crane connected to said valve, and means for operating said valve from said control station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 903,552 Eastwood et a1. Nov. 10, 1908 1,374,834 Dooley Apr. 12, 1921 2,466,693 Fischer Apr. 12, 1949 

